New Faces,New Focus at Williams

Williams Announces Leadership Restructure Ahead of 2026

Williams Racing has announced key changes within its leadership team. Axel Kruse has been appointed as the team’s new Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Frederic Brousseau in the role.

Kruse brings a wealth of Formula 1 experience to Williams, having previously served as COO at Sauber for 15 years. Prior to that, he worked at BMW, and in the early 2000s was part of the Williams team as a power unit engineer, contributing to the squad’s second-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship. Kruse will officially assume his new position on September 1 and will work alongside Brousseau through the remainder of the season to ensure a smooth transition.

Additionally, Williams has promoted Matt Harman, the team's Chief Designer, to the role of Technical Director responsible for chassis development. The restructuring reflects the team’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its technical and operational leadership as it prepares for the upcoming regulatory era.